Reminiscences and Memoirs of North Carolina and Eminent North Carolinians

opened fields, built forts and houses, "subdued the earth," and began rapidly
to "replenish it,". for "they married, and were given in marriage;" and the
State of North Carolina, some years afterward, deemed a good opportunity
presented for her to gain the credit of an act of "supererogation," and passed
laws to confirm marriages and other deeds and doings of these wayward "children
in the woods."

July 21, 1776, "Old Abraham,"
in command of a band of Cherokees from Chilhowee mountains, attacked the Watauga
fort, commanded by Sevier and Robertson; and, as the best feat performed, he
chased the "lovely Catharine to the captain's arms;" and we have heard her say
she used to feel ready to have another such a race and leap over the pickets to
enjoy another such an introduction.

On this same day was fought
the battle of the Flats. Other skirmishes occurred here and there at different
times.

Captain Sevier was actively
engaged in the expedition of Colonel Christian, ordered out by Virginia, and
joined the Virginia troops at "Double Springs," and he neglected no opportunity
to pursue the Indians or chastise them for any of their insults or outrages. He
promptly united with others, without envy, or jealousy, or reservation, and he
as readily fitted out expeditions from his own neighborhood and with his own
means, without boasting, without fear, and with never a failure. In 1777
he was made lieutenant-colonel.

In 1778 it is probable that
his first wife died, for on August 14, 1779, he was married to Miss Catharine
Sherrill, of whom it is truly and handsomely said, "she could outrun, outjump,
walk more erect, and ride more gracefully and skillfully than any other female
in all the mountains round about or on the continent at large."

In 1779 Captain Sevier raised
troops, entered the Indian territory, burned their towns, made prisoners, and
fought the successful battle of "Boyd's Creek."

A few days after the battle
of Boyd's Creek, Colonel Sevier was joined by Colonel Arthur Campbell with a
Virginia regiment, and by Colonel Isaac Shelby with his troops from Sullivan
County, North Carolina, and afterward these three colonels in harmony scoured
the Cherokee country, scattered hostile bands, destroyed the homes of the
Indians, and then returned to their own in better security and some more
confidence of peace.

The critical year of the
American Revolution was 1780, certainly so as regarded the Southern States.
Charleston surrendered, Gates defeated, reverses here and there; money
exhausted, provisions, clothing and ammunition scarce, many hearts fainting,
fearful and desponding--taking shelter under British
protection-certificates.

The tories were numerous,
desperate and daring. The British in possession of South Carolina, Georgia and
parts of North Carolina and Virginia, the hopes of the patriots were feeble, and
the sun of independence well nigh obscured. But soon it beamed forth on the
heights of King's Mountain, (October 7, 1780,) which achievement has been
frequently referred to in these pages. Sevier had his full share of the dangers,
and has received full credit for the same--a sword and a vote of thanks were
extended to him by the Legislature of North Carolina. He rendered other
important military services at Musgrove's Mill and other places against the
British and tories, and afterward in defending the frontiers against the ravages
of the Indians, and in 1781 he conducted several expeditions to the Chicamauga
towns. Peace being made with England, yet no peace came to this section; for in
1784 "the State of Franklin" mingled in the seething cauldron of political
excitement, and Sevier set up a government independent of the State of North
Carolina. Our space and limits do not allow us to give the history of this very
interesting epoch in the life of Sevier. In 1788 he was arrested and imprisoned
in the jail at Morganton. The mild measures of the old mother State toward her
young and wayward daughter, granting pardons to individuals, and yielding up a
section already beyond her control, induced Sevier and his party to come into
measures of compromise. The County was ceded to the United States, and organized
as "the Territory south of the Ohio river." The probationary territorial stage
was passed through.; Tennessee was created a State, and John Sevier (1796-1801)
was chosen Governor, and afterward from 1803-9. In 1811 he was elected a member
of Congress from Tennessee, with Felix Grundy and John Rhea as colleagues, and
was re-elected in 1813. In 1815 he was persuaded by Mr. Madison to accept the
appointment of commissioner to adjust the difficulties with the Creek Indians.
This duty, considering his age and health, was too severe, and while engaged in
its services he was taken sick at an encampment on the east side of the
Tallapoosa river, near Decatur, Georgia, where on Septemtember 24, 1815, he
died.